personalized children’s books in its first two years, making the series one of the country’s largest selling children’s books. He was a graduate of Princeton University and served as a first lieutenant in the Army. While in the oil business in Texas, Mr. Gosden contracted polio. He returned to Los Angeles to recover and continued his career, working in the advertising business at Young & Rubicam, BBDO and Rexall Drug and Chemical Co. After serving as president of the Market Compilation and Research Bureau, he became a partner in the advertising agency SmithHemmingsGosden. He taught direct marketing at over 120 colleges and corporations and was named Direct Marketing Educational Association’s Man of the Year. His book, Direct Marketing: What Works and Why, sold over 100,000 copies and was printed in four languages. He served as a columnist for AdWeek and was known for his yearly analysis in Direct Marketing Magazine of mail order catalogs to improve catalog efficiency. He served as a consultant to WilliamsSonoma, Shell Oil, Lionel Trains, and the National Stuttering Association. Mr. Gosden is survived by two daughters, a sister, two grandchildren, his stepmother, a half-brother, and half-sister.
Darrel G. Nye N’46 of Canton, Ohio, died June 20, 2014. A graduate of Kent State University, Mr. Nye was an Army Veteran, serving in the 1st Cavalry division in Japan. Two daughters and two grandchildren survive. Edward S. Tanka ’46 (Co. B) died Oct. 30, 2015, in Forsyth, Mo. Mr. Tanka enlisted immediately following graduation and was an Army medic for two years in Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1948 with the rank of Tech Sergeant and was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and the Army Occupation Medal Japan. Following his military service, he moved back to Chicago and worked for AT&T as a lineman, retiring in 1979 as an electrical engineer. He is survived by his wife, Donna; a daughter, son, and four granddaughters. Jack M. Bass Jr. ’47 (Troop) of Nashville, Tenn., died Aug. 15, 2015. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he served in the Foreign Service. He then joined his father at J.M. Bass and Company, where he gained knowledge and insight for many future endeavors in private investment banking, particularly in the coal industry. Mr. Bass and his wife, Melinda, were found-
ing members of the Nashville Gun Club. He was a member of the Hillsboro Hounds and The National Steeplechase Association. He also served as a steward and timekeeper for the Iroquois Steeplechase. In addition to his wife, Mr. Bass is survived by four daughters, a son, three stepdaughters, and 16 grandchildren. Roger T. Becker ’47 (Co. B) of Kalamazoo, Mich., died Sept. 2, 2015. Mr. Becker graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He served in the Army as a first lieutenant and was stationed in Germany during the early Cold War. Returning to Kalamazoo, he joined the family business, AeroMotive Manufacturing Company, as an engineer, and was president from 1960-72. Mr. Becker subsequently founded and was chairman of the Kalamazoo Conveyer Company and Monlan Corporation, manufacturers of specialized industrial equipment. Surviving are his wife, Sara; five children, including Matteo Melosi W’85, ’91 and Amber (Melosi) Aponte W’88; two brothers, and seven grandchildren. John H. “Doc” McIlwain ’47 of Marion, Ind., died Oct. 23, 2015. Mr. McIlwain served with the Marion Motor Pool Division of the Indiana National Guard. He was a
Deaths in the Family John M. Hartley, who taught English at the Academies from 1961-84 and was a former department chairman, died Oct. 3, 2015, in Devon, England. Mr. Hartley graduated from Selwyn College, Cambridge University, and obtained his teaching credentials at Wadham College, Oxford. He arrived at Culver on a short-term teacher exchange scheme in 1960 but stayed for over three decades. During his tenure he served at various times as the Acting Chaplain and held the school’s Carter Family Chair of English. “A larger-than-life character with a fine Victorian moustache and a dry sense of humor, Mr. Hartley took pride in having spent most of his teaching career imparting the language of Shakespeare and the mysteries of Beowulf, as well as his love and encyclopaedic knowledge of music, to so many fine young Americans,” a relative shared. He returned to the United Kingdom in retirement and is survived by two brothers and two sisters.
•••• John W. “Jack” Montgomery, 74, a part-time/on call security officer from 2001-2015, died Dec. 22, 2015, in Culver. He was a former volunteer firefighter and EMT in Illinois before retiring to Culver in 1985. His mother, sister, and companion Kathleen Vesh survive.
•••• A former employee of the Uniform Department, Sandra L. McVicker, 60, of Culver died Oct. 11, 2015. Surviving are her husband, Clifford, two daughters, three sons, two sisters, a brother, Randy Thomas of Monterey, a former Dining Hall employee, and 26 grandchildren.
••••
••••
A 15-year employee of the laundry department, Frances Ruth Geiselman of Culver died Sept. 29, 2015, at the age of 93. Mrs. Geiselman is survived by a son, granddaughter Garianna SS’14, and grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son.
Gerald J. White, a Woodcraft counselor for 20 summers (1977-97), died July 30, 2015. A resident of Waukegan, Ill., Mr. White received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s at DePaul University. An Army veteran, he taught history and coached baseball at North Central High School in Chicago for 30 years. A sister survives.
CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
47